AP Human Geography Notes

Maps

  • Map Projections and Distortion:

    • All map projections struggle with distortion in shape, area, distance, and direction.
    • The Mercator map projection is one example.

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS):

    • GIS involves layering data on maps.
    • This allows visualization of different spatial relationships.

  • Data Types:

    • Qualitative Data:
      • Reflects people's attitudes, beliefs, or feelings.
      • Can be discussed.
    • Quantitative Data:
      • Uses census information in numerical form
      • Cannot be discussed.

Spatial Concepts

  • Distance Decay:

    • Advancements in technology and communication have decreased distance decay.
    • This has Led to increased global interconnectedness.

  • Environmental Determinism:

    • The environment sets restrictions on society and culture.
    • Culture and society cannot overcome these environmental restrictions.

  • Environmental Possibilism:

    • Society can shape and modify the environment to meet its needs.

Scale and Scale of Analysis

  • Scale of Analysis:

    • Refers to how data is organized and put together.
    • Considers how much of the Earth was viewed in the analysis.

  • Levels of Analysis:

    • National Scale:
      • Based around country boundaries.
    • Local Level:
      • Counties.

  • Map Scale:

    • Small Scale Map:
      • Map of the world.
      • Shows little detail.
    • Large Scale Map:
      • County map.
      • More detailed and specific places compared to small scale.
      • Covers less of the Earth's surface.

Different Types of Regions

  • Functional Region:

    • Geographic areas organized around a node.
    • Have a center point, often based around economic activities, travel, or communication.

  • Vernacular Region:

    • Geographic area with perceived, common characteristics.
    • Exist because of people’s beliefs.

  • Formal Region:

    • Geographic area with common characteristics.
    • Defined by economic, social, political, or environmental characteristics.

Population and Migration

  • Population Distribution:

    • Focuses on understanding where people live (or do not live) in the world.

  • Rural Areas:

    • Larger rural areas offer more economic and social opportunities, attracting migrants.
    • Smaller rural areas offer fewer such opportunities.
    • Buildings are more dispersed, resulting in more land per person.

  • Population Density Types:

    • Arithmetic Density:
      • population / amount\ of\ land
    • Physiological Density:
      • population / arable\ land
    • Agricultural Density:
      • farmers / arable\ land

  • Vocabulary:

    • Crude Birth Rate:
      • Total number of live births in a year for every 1,000 people alive.
    • Crude Death Rate:
      • Total number of deaths in a year for every 1,000 people alive.
    • Natural Increase Rate:
      • The percentage by which a population grows in a year.
    • Total Fertility Rate:
      • Average number of children a woman will have.
    • Dependency Ratio:
      • The number of people working in a country to support those who are not working.
    • Sex Ratio:
      • The ratio of males to females in a population.
    • Doubling Time:
      • The amount of time it takes for a country to double its population.